Bobcats blank Lady Rangers
Published 8:14 am Thursday, April 17, 2008
By By DON EDEN / Vigilant/Argus
NILES – Three-time defending Lakeland Conference girls' tennis champions Brandywine proved masterful Monday afternoon at Plym Park by blowing past Cassopolis 8-0.
Professional golfers had trouble in the wind and cold in Georgia, but coach Joe Marazita's ladies mastered the courts by almost blanking the Rangers by losing three games the entire match.
"Cassopolis was hit the hardest with the change from fall to spring by losing girls to softball," said Marazita, whose team is now 4-0 overall and 2-0 in conference matches). "Everybody has to play no matter what the weather is so conditions will always be the same for both teams."
Coach Scott Marshall of the Rangers (0-2, 0-1) is happy with the girls who tried out as 20 ladies are out with 16 playing tennis for the first time.
"We don't have many (four) returners from last year but we're building something for the future with a good bunch of girls that are giving a good effort and making progress every day," Marshall noted.
Juniors dominate the Bobcats this year with only a pair of seniors (Amelia Harrison and Jamie Bartuska) and sophomore Nicole Coshow not graduating in 2009.
The Rangers have five sophomores on the court, which matches the senior class and has two juniors.
Wednesday at Edwardsburg starting at 4 p.m. will be Brandywine's main obstacle to repeat for the conference crown.
"Every point will be important and will be a good competitive match," Marazita noted about the match with the Eddies. "This is a good time for us to play them as everybody is playing real well and we are ahead of our expectations."
Cassopolis…0
Brandywine…8
Singles
1. Amelia Harrison (BR) d. Davina Johnson (CA) 6-0, 6-0; 2. Brittney Patterson (BR) d. Cayla Miracle (CA) 6-0, 6-0; 3. Aubrey Espick (BR) d. Liz Mays (CA) 6-0, 6-0; 4. Ariel Prescott (BR) d. Brooke Lindley (CA) 6-0, 6-1
Doubles
1. Jamie Bartuska/Jo Ferenczi (BR) d. Amy Bloss/Rita Moore (CA) 6-2, 6-0; 2. Lynette Earl/Nicole Coshow (BR) d. Danielle Walker/Kristen Fitzsimmons (CA) 6-0, 6-0; 3. Ashley Light/Katie Irons (BR) beat Molly Gore-Nakhela Johnson (CA) 6-0, 6-0; 4. Kyla Molica/Brooke Ford (BR) d. Beth Hummel/Devon Allen (CA) 6-0, 6-0
Lake Michigan…7
Cassopolis…1
Visiting Lake Michigan Catholic swept the doubles flights and won three out of four singles matches to post a 7-1 non-conference victory over Cassopolis on Friday.
The Lady Rangers picked up their lone win at No. 4 singles where Christa Marzke defeated Rita Moore 6-4 and 6-0.
The Lady Rangers are currently 0-2 overall and 0-1 in the league this season.
Lake Michigan Catholic…7
Cassopolis…1
Singles
1. Liz Mays (LMC) d. Sarah Monte 6-0, 6-0; 2. Brooke Lindley (LMC) d. Kelly Broderick 6-0, 6-0; 3. Paige Breden (LMC) d. Lauren Foley 6-0, 6-0; 4. Christa Marzke (C) d. Rita Moore 6-4, 6-0
Doubles
1. Davina Johnson/Izola McCoy-Johnson (LMC) d. Leigh Ann Ives/Rachel Burta 6-0, 6-0; 2. Danielle Walker/Kristen Fitzsimmons (LMC) d. Natalie Narzke/Elizabeth Nuter 6-1, 6-1; 3. Molly Gore/Nakhela Johnson (LMC) d. Madi DiMaggio-Laura Sturks 6-1, 6-0; 4. Beth Hummel/Devon Allen (LMC) d. Alanna Connor/Elily Boelcke 6-0, 6-2